Re-election bid quashed

The Acadia Parish Police Jury will have at least one new face when it convenes in January.
District 1 Juror Alton “Al” Stevenson has been disqualified from seeking re-election because of his continued failure to file personal financial disclosure statements and not paying fines associated with failing to file.
Stevenson and Charles “Danny” Hebert are the only candidates who qualified for the Oct. 24 election. With Stevenson’s disqualification, Hebert is automatically seated as the District 1 representative.
According to the state Board of Ethics website, Stevenson has been fined $2,500 six times — a total of $15,000 — for failure to file the annual reports dating back to 2009.
Those unpaid fines apparently prompted the board to file suit against the four-term juror.
“We had a hearing Monday,” Stevenson said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “In the end, I was disqualified (from running for re-election) by the judge.”
The hearing was before 15th Judicial District Judge Kristian Earles.
Billie Meyer, parish Registrar of Voters, said she was told by Commissioner of Elections Angie Rogers that the parish ballots that include the District 1 Police Jury race are being reprinted and “Mr. Stevenson’s name will not be on the ballot,” either for the Oct. 24 election or for early voting Oct 10 - 17.
But Stevenson said he does not plan to allow Hebert “to just walk into the position.”
Stevenson said he hopes to have a special election called for Nov. 21 — the general election date on which any runoffs in the parish will be held.
“I know they’re not going to let that happen, but I’ve got to try. I’m a crazy man,” he said.
“I represent 70 percent black and 30 percent white and I have no problem with either. But I think the 70 percent black should have the chance to run someone against Hebert if they want to.”
Hebert is white.
As for the remainder of the current term, Stevenson said he will continue to serve.
“I will go back to the meetings,” he said. “I’m going to keep my promise to the people that elected me.”
Police jury committees will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the full jury is Tuesday, Oct. 13.
“I’m going to be there until that last meeting in January when the new juror is sworn in,” Stevenson said.